Adjustable handle-bar for bicycles



(No Model.) F. JOHNSON.

ADJUSTABLE HANDLE BAR FOR BIGYGLBS. No. 602,015. Patented Apr; 5,1898.

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

FRANK JOHNSON, OF RHINFLANDE R, WISCONSIN.

ADJUSTABLE HAN DLE-BAR FIORIBIICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 602,015, dated April 5, 1898.

Application filed August 11, 1896; Serial No. 602,426. (No model.)

My invention relates to adjustable handle-- bars for bicycles.

My object is to provide an extremely simple and cheap handle-bar which can be held? firmly locked in any desired position, but is adapted to be manipulated quickly and easily, so that it may be adjusted satisfactorily to the rider.

Having this object in View, my invention consists, in combination with a steering-head and a handle-bar j ournaled therein, being provided with teeth, of a spring-pressed clamp having teeth and normally in engagement with the teeth of the handle-bar and means for releasing said engagement whereby said handle-bar can be adjusted as desirable. I

The invention further consists of certain details of construction and novel combinations of parts appearing more fully in the fol-,

lowing description, the appended claim, and the accompanying drawings, in WhIGh- I Figure 1 is a plan view; Fig. 2, a rear view in elevation, and Fig. 3 a view in cross-section.

The numeral 1 designates a steering-head of ordinary construction, which is provided with two annular clips 2 and 3, and in'these clips is journaled a handle-bar 4:, whichis provided with an arc-shaped rack 5, which is located between the clips.

The numeral 6 designates a locking-plate which is hinged at 7 to the steering-head, being arc-shaped and provided with a rack 8 on its inner face, which is adapted to engage with the rack of the handle-bar. In the rear face of this locking-plate there is provided a vertically-extending longitudinal slot 9.

The numeral 10 designates a ribbon-spring which has its lower end secured to the steering-head and its upper end pressing slidably against the locking-plate, said spring being of suflicient strength to keep the lockingplate normally in firm engagement with the rack of the handle.

The'numeral 11 designates a lever which is pivoted to the handle-bar 4 and is provided with a finger 13 on its free end, said finger being located in the slot and slidable therein and having a head 13, which prevents it from pulling out of the slot, said lever being pressed by a spring 14 in such manner that the finger is normally in the slot.

When it is desired to adjust the handlebar, the lever is manipulated against the action of its spring, so that the locking-plate is pulled out of engagement with the rack of the handle-bar, whereupon the latter can be turned as desirable, and when the lever is released the locking-plate will spring back into engagement with the bar and the latterwill be held in adjustable position.

It is obvious that slight and immaterial changes of construction might be resorted to in carrying out my invention without detract ing from any of its advantages, and hence I am to be understood as claiming all those varied constructions which come within the spirit and scope of my invention.

.I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

The combination with a steering-head, of a handle-bar journaled therein and provided with a rack, a locking-plate hinged to the steering-head and provided with teeth and a vertical elongated curved slot, a spring for keeping the teeth of the locking-plate norlocking-plate, and a presser-spring for said lever. V

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib ing witnesses.

j FRANK JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

PETER A. BROWN, GEO. BURKHART. 

